Richard K. Armey: “Most people of America did not know Officer Gibson and they did not know Officer Chestnut, but they know what they did…”

“Most people of America did not know Officer Gibson and they did not know Officer Chestnut, but they know what they did here, and now most people in America honor and respect and really know these officers. Every 48 hours in this country somewhere we have a police officer who loses his life or her life in the line of duty. It is unfortunate that it takes a tragedy like this to move the word 'hero' from the sports page back to the news page. Many years ago, I lost a very, very close friend of mine whom I was with about an hour before his death. He was very young. And I remember at the service the story that I think we can relate here very easily, and I think it applies here. His grandpa was an old cowboy, I live in the mountains of Colorado, and he was weathered, very seasoned, very wise. I was crying, I was very upset. And much like here, I think his comments rest. Those comments were, despite all of this tragedy, do not be too sad, because all that has really happened here is that Officer Gibson and Officer Chestnut have just saddled up their horses, they have ridden ahead on the trail, they have set up camp, and they have put the coffee on for us.”